Pattern wheel filling method



Nov. 26, 1968 1.. MISHCON ETAL 3,412,581

PATTERN WHEEL FILLING METHOD Filed March 3, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

O. JQILLQCD gwvsmoRs Lester Mlshcon, and Paul Wolford WITNESS; flmf o ui dad; Lia/ 5x4 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1968 L. MISHCON ETAL 3,412,581

PATTERN WHEEL FILLING METHOD Filed March 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Lesi'er Mlshcon, and

BY Paul Wolford WITNESS: @7? dam JQMECM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,412,581 PATTERN WHEEL FILLING METHOD Lester Mishcon, Miami Beach, and Paul M. Wolford, North Miami, Fla., assignors to The Singer Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 531,619 3 Claims. (Cl. 66-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method is disclosed for filling a pattern wheel with jacks in accordance with a preselected arrangement wherein an annulus of sheet material is imprinted with marks indicative of the desired jack location and then placed beneath the position occupied by the jacks to be loaded in the pattern wheel visually to indicate the jack arrangement of the pattern wheel to be filled.

This invention relates to the art of filling pattern wheels with jack elements, and more particularly to providing novel template materials, and a method and apparatus for marking such novel templates with indicia useful for guiding knitters in loading of pattern wheels in ascordance with any selected pattern.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified method of preparing pattern information for loading jacks on pattern wheels.

Another object of this invention is to provide materials formed for use as templates for pattern wheels which can be readily marked and utilized for that purpose.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device for holding and marking templates adapted for insertion into pattern wheels for indicating the character and order of arrangement of jacks to be inserted into pattern wheels.

A further object of this invention is to provide templates for pattern wheels marked with indicia for filling the pattern wheels with jacks in accordance with any preselected pattern.

In the art of manually filling pattern wheels with jacks, a rather complicated process has been required in the past. Initially a pattern figure is required in order to indicate where to use a high or low jack, or where no jack is required to position the needle respectively in a knit, tuck or welt position. The pattern figure indicates in one drawing the disposition of jacks in all of the pattern wheels of a knitting machine.

While it might theoretically be possible to fill pattern wheels manually by direct reference to a pattern figure, in practice the danger of confusion and mistake of this course is so great that it is conventional in the art that a reading chart for each individual pattern wheel must be prepared from the pattern figure. The reading chart comprises a three level reading for a single pattern wheel which will comprise three horizontal lines for slots containing high or low jacks and empty slots containing no jacks.

Each pattern wheel is then filled while referring to the reading chart for that particular wheel. The reading chart is complicated for the operator to read and to use as a guide in actually filling the pattern wheel. It requires considerable skill and checking for the personnel performing the work to perform the operation by using pattern charts.

3,412,581 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 The primary disadvantage of the above procedure is that an operator in preparing the reading chart must constantly glance back and forth from the pattern figure to the reading chart, thus giving rise to the possibility of error. Then in filling each pattern wheel the operator must again glance back and forth between the reading chart to the pattern wheel giving rise to another source of error. Such a procedure is lengthy, fatiguing, and errors are made relatively frequently, particularly if there is any distraction. In the alternative, two persons must work together with one reading and the other performing the above tasks.

In accordance with this invention a novel method, novel materials, and novel apparatus are provided which permit the operator to make a novel pattern wheel template of annular form which may be inserted into the annular groove in the pattern wheel and on which the equivalent of a reading chart for a wheel is recorded by means of novel marking apparatus which requires no visual checking by the operator. Then, the annular template may be inserted into the annular recess in a pattern wheel and the markings on the template will indicate beneath the location for such jack exactly which type of jack should be placed in each slot in the pattern wheel.

Further description of this invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a pattern figure customarily employed for preparing pattern reading charts which is then employed by personnel in loading a corresponding pattern wheel;

FIG. 2 shows a novel annular template marked in accordance with the method of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a novel typewriter for marking annular templates in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the typewriter shown in FIG. 3 with portions thereof partially broken away;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the typweriter shown in FIG. 3 with portions thereof partially broken away and in section;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the type bars of the typewriter and the mechanism employed for actuation thereof with portions cutaway.

Referring to FIG. 3, the type of pattern wheel 10 which is to be filled with jacks in accordance with this invention comprises a body portion 11 formed with a hub 12, an annular recess 13 on one side, and about the periphery beyond the recess 13 with a multiplicity of evenly spaced slots 14.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a pattern figure for a pattern showing the sequence in which jacks are to be placed in seventeen pattern wheels labelled A-Q is set forth for a width of fifty stitches numbered in Roman numerals. The pattern symbols employed in the squares on the pattern figure shown in FIGURE 1 have meanin gs which are as follows:

The section of wheel A to be filled in accordance with FIG. 1 would normally be recorded manually by an operator on a reading chart indicating the order and number of jacks to be loaded onto the wheel, as follows:

CHART l.WHEEL A 31' which is fulcrummed on a frame 50 by means of a shouldered screw 30. The pawl carrying lever 31' is con- Actually, the pattern figure from which FIG. 1 was extracted is so large that 130 slots would be required to be filled and the reading chart for wheel 1 would be almost three times as long for a 130 out pattern wheel, as the hypothetical 50 cut wheel referred to in FIG. 1 and Chart 1. In the conventional mode of loading pattern wheels, the reading chart would then be placed in view of the operator who would load the pattern wheel by reference to that reading chart. Of course, consistent care would be required for him to retain his place on the reading chart relative to the wheel and if he were to compare the reading chart with the jacks inserted into the wheel after filling the wheel, he would be required to exercise considerable care, even when assisted by another person.

In accordance with this invention, we have provided a novel form of reading chart template 16 such as the one shown in FIG. 2 which is annular in form, adapted to fit into the annular recess 13 in the wheel 10 and which can have high indicia and low indicia imprinted thereon to indicate to the operator where to place high jacks or'low jacks. Each mark can be aligned with the corresponding slot 14 in the pattern wheel 10. Where no jack is to be used, a blank space is left on the template 16. Moreover, the indicia on the annular template 16 can be applied by a novel typewriter 18, shown in FIG. 3 including a fork 19 which holds a pattern wheel 10 holding a template 16 in the annular recess 13 and means for aligning the marks so that they correspond to the alignment of the slots 14 on the pattern wheel 10. The pattern shown on the template 16 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the reading chart set forth in Table 1 above, for wheel A in FIG. 1.

When a template 16 has been marked as shown in FIG. 2, it can be inserted into a pattern wheel 10 of the variety which is shown in FIGS. 3 and or the very pattern wheel which is used on the typewriter 12 can be removed with a marked template therein for loading with jacks. Then the fully marked template 16 will permit the operator to fill the pattern wheel 10 without reference to a reading chart which has been superseded by the pattern template 16.

Preferably the pattern template 16 is manufactured from a paper or other sheet material which is of the selfimaging, pressure sensitive marking variety (such as Action paper manufactured by the Minnesota Mining and Mfg. Co.) which changes shade or color in an area where impact is applied thereto. If a pressure sensitive marking material is employed, then no carbon paper, ink, pencil, etc. is required to mark indicia on the pattern template 16.

The template material can be marked manually if desired, but for facility of use and accuracy of printing and alignment of marks, we have devised the novel typewriter 18 shown in FIGS. 3-6 which includes in general a cover 21, an actuating handle 22 and the fork 19 secured on a stand 23 secured to the base 24 of the typewriter. A pattern wheel 10 holding a pattern template 16 is journalled for rotation on the fork 19 by means of a stud 26, a bushing 27, a washer 28, and a nut 29, with the head of the stud 26 and an annular flange on the bushing 27 secured on opposite sides of the fork 19 by the nut 29. The pattern wheel 10 is adapted to be indexed manually by torque applied by the operators fingers in cooperation with a spring-biased pawl 31 which locates the wheel positively. The pawl 31 extends upwardly from a pawl carrying lever nected with a second lever 32 fulcrummed on a rod 49 in the frame 50. The pawl 31 can be released by depressing a backspace release button 32 which is carried by the lever 32' and biased upwardly by a spring 38 arranged between the frame 50 and the button 32. The handle 22 is used to control selection of high and low marks and is operated by pivoting it about a vertical axis with the operators fingers or preferably with the heel of the palm of the hand as indicated in phantom in FIG. 3. The operator can easily learn to touch type with this typewriter 18 because the operation thereof is simple. For example, motion of the handle 22 to the left in FIG. 3 provides high marks, motion of the handle to the right provides low marks. Each time the operator moves the pattern wheel 10 one slot counter-clockwise, the pawl 31 produces a clearly audible click as it slides into the next slot 14 in the pattern wheel 10 indicating that the next slot or marking position has been reached. Thus, with little practice the operator can position the pattern wheel 10 as desired, then pivot the handle 22 as desired and move to the next slot for which a mark is to be made without looking at the template 16 held on the typewriter 18. If the pattern figure requires that one or more empty spaces should lie between marks, the operator may count the appropriate number of audible clicks as he turns the pattern wheel 10. In this way, without looking away from the pattern figure, the operator can mark the pattern template 16 accurately and completely in a very short time.

Subsequently, the operator can fill the pattern wheel 10 in any sequence desired without keeping his place because the template 16 indicates directly beneath each jack location on the wheel where and which variety of jacks is to be inserted into the slots in the wheel 10.

A further advantage of employing pressure-sensitive, self-imaging templates 16 is that several copies of the pattern reading can be made simultaneously on several template rings overlying one another in the annular recess 13 in the pattern wheel 10, without employing special carbon papers.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-6 for description of the typewriter 18 in greater detail.

The handle 22 is pivoted on a pin 33 secured to the base 24 of the machine. A clip 34 retains a vertical tubular portion of the handle 22 on the pin 33. Extending laterally from the handle 22 are two reeds 35 each of which will depress a button of a corresponding small-displacement, snap-action switch 36 or 37 in response to pivoting of the handle 22 into the appropriate position about the pin 33.

Actuation of the switch 37 will close a standard circuit for operation of a solenoid 40 having a core rod 41 pivotally secured by a pin 42 to a hammer 43 which is biased to the left by a spring 44 secured to a tab 45 affixed to the base 24 of the machine. A type bar 46 having a type face 47 for making low marks is secured to a bracket 48 which is journalled on a horizontal rod 49 secured to a frame 50 fastened to the base 24. An anvil rod 52 extends horizontally between depending ears 53 of the bracket 48 across the path of the hammer 43. Upon actuation of the solenoid 40 in response to switch 37, the core rod 41 is pulled to the right so that the hammer 43 strikes the anvil rod 52, thereby pivoting the bracket 48 and the type bar 46 about the horizontal rod 49 with such impact transferred to the type bar 46 that the type face 47 strikes the template 16 with considerable force While the template 16 rests in the annular recess 13 in the pattern wheel 10.

A coil spring 54 drives the first bracket 48 and type bar 46 towards its initial rest position in which the type bar 46 overlies a second type bar 56 secured on a second bracket 57 also journalled on the horizontal rod 49, carrying a second type face 58 which rests upon a pad 59 Sup ported above the base 24.

When it is desired to provide a high mark, both type bars 46 and 56 must be actuated. The two bars are actuated in response to operation of the actuating handle 22 if the handle is pivoted to cause one reed 35 thereof to close the other switch 36. Switch 36 powers a second solenoid 55 which when actuated will pull a second core rod 60 to the right. The second core rod 60 is also pivotally secured by a pin 42 to a second hammer 61 which is biased towards the left by a third spring 62. Upon actuation of the switch 36 and hence the second solenoid 55, the second core rod 60 is pulled to the right so that the second hammer 61 strikes a second anvil rod 63, thereby pivoting both the first bar 46 and the second bar 56 which carries the first bar with high velocity into a relatively high impact contact with the template 16.

The first bar 46 will ride upon the second bar 56, because the first bar 46 is bent to overlie the second bar 56. The type faces 47, 58 on the two bars are aligned and spaced closely so that when both faces strike the template 16 simultaneously, a long sustantially uninterrupted line is marked on the template 16. Subsequent to removal of power from either of the solenoids 40 or 55, the corresponding core rod 41 or 60 will return to its rest position under the biasing force of the respective spring 44 or 62. If either of the type bars 46 or 56 falls back on the pad 59 before the corresponding core rod 41 or 60 returns to its rest position, because the corresponding anvil rod has passed above the corresponding hammer 43 or 61, thus permitting the hammer to pass thereby, then the hammer 43 or 61 will pivot on its pin 42 and pass under the anvil rod 52 or 63. A tab 65 on each hammer prevents pivoting in the opposite direction, as each tab rests on the lower surface of a core rod 41 or 60 beyond the slot formed therein for its hammer.

The coil spring 54 will act upon the second bar 56, because the first bar 46 overlies it, as explained above. The pivot pins 42 ride on guide tracks 66 which have stops 67 at the ends thereof at which the hammers 43 and 61 rest under spring bias.

In order that the pattern wheel and the template 16 will be positioned properly when indicia are marked thereon, a protective circuit is employed to prevent operation of the typewriter 18 when the pattern wheel 10 is above its proper position. A forked seat 70' pivotally secured to the stand 23 of the machine by a pin 71 is adapted to actuate a snap action switch 72 by means of an adjusting screw 73 carried in a fiap 74 carried downwardly by an adjusting screw 75 when the rim of a pattern wheel 10 is resting on the forked seat 70. The switch 72 breaks the circuit to the solenoids 40 and 55 when the pattern wheel 10 is raised above its proper position.

Having thus set forth the nature of this invention, what we herein claim is:

1. The method of loading jacks in a preselected arrangement into a knitting machine pattern wheel comprising the steps of providing an annulus of sheet material insertable upon said pattern wheel beneath the position occupied by jacks when loaded therein, imprinting said annulus with marks corresponding in position on said annulus to the specific location of the jacks required to be loaded into said pattern wheel in accordance with said preselected arrangement, placing said imprinted annulus of sheet material on said pattern Wheel beneath the position to be occupied by said jacks when loaded, and loading jacks into said pattern wheel in accordance with the positions as visually indicated by the marks imprinted on said annulus.

2. The method of loading jacks into a knitting machine pattern wheel as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of varying the appearance of said marks imprinted on said annulus in accordance with the type of jack required at each specific location by said preselected arrangement, and filling the type of jack at each specific location as visually indicated by the variation in the appearance of said marks on said annulus.

3. The method of loading jacks in a preselected arrangement into a knitting machine pattern wheel comprising the steps of providing an annulus of sheet material insertable upon said pattern wheel beneath the position occupied by jacks when loaded therein, placing said annulus of sheet material on an unloaded duplicate pattern wheel identical with that to be loaded with jacks in a position beneath the position which would be occupied by jacks in said duplicate pattern wheel, indexing said duplicate pattern wheel with said annulus of sheet material therein to bring each jack location thereof successively into registry with a marking station, imprinting said annulus at said marking station on those selected indexes of said duplicate pattern wheel which require loading of a jack in accordance with said preselected arrangement, placing said imprinted annulus of sheet material on said pattern wheel to be loaded with jacks beneath the position to be occupied by said jacks when loaded, and loading jacks into said pattern wheel in accordance with the positions as visually indicated by the marks imprinted on said annulus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,123 10/1936 Lawson et al 66l 2,769,518 11/1956 Faulkneret al 19720 2,990,702 7/1961 Schmidt 66-1 3,330,397 7/1967 Schwartz et al. 197-6.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 251,450 6/1926 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Engelfried: German printed application No. 1,066,696, pub. October 1959, Class 66-156.

Beck: German printed application No. 1,090,808, pub. October 1960, Class 66-156.

WILLIAM CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner. 

